Guy Sebastian

Guy Sebastian
AM
Sebastian in November 2014
Born
Guy Theodore Sebastian

(1981-10-26) 26 October 1981 (age 42)
Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
NationalityAustralian
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2003–present
Spouse
Jules Egan
​
(m. 2008)​
Children2
Musical career
OriginAdelaide, South Australia
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Labels
Websiteguysebastian.com

Guy Theodore Sebastian AM (born 26 October 1981) is an Australian singer-songwriter who rose to fame after winning the first season of Australian Idol, in 2003. Sebastian has since released ten top ten albums, including three number ones. The first seven all gained either platinum or multi-platinum certification.[3][4] He has also achieved twenty three top twenty singles, with fourteen of them, reaching the top ten, including six number ones.[3] He is the only Australian male artist in Australian chart history to achieve six number one singles, and places third overall for all Australian acts.[5] Ten of his singles have been certified multi-platinum, including the 13× platinum "Battle Scars".[6][7][8][9][10][11] His debut single "Angels Brought Me Here" was the highest selling song in Australia in the decade 2000 to 2009.[12] With 69 platinum and seven gold certifications and combined album and single sales of over five million in Australia, he has the highest certifications and sales of any Australian Idol contestant.[4]

Sebastian has worked with a number of notable American musicians, including Brian McKnight, Robin Thicke, Steve Cropper, John Mayer, Jordin Sparks, Eve and Lupe Fiasco. "Battle Scars", a collaboration with Fiasco, spent 20 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 71 and achieved platinum certification.[13][14] "Battle Scars" also reached number two in Norway and New Zealand.[15] Sebastian has reached the top ten in New Zealand with an album and six singles, including two number ones, and gained six platinum and three gold certifications there.[16][17][18] In 2015 his Eurovision song charted in the top 50 in five European countries.[19][20][21]

During his career Sebastian has received 34 ARIA Award nominations, winning seven including Best Pop Release and Best Live Act.[22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Other awards include the APRA Urban Work of the Year, the [V] Oz Artist of the Year, Urban Music Awards for Best Male Artist and Best R&B Album, and an International Songwriting Competition award for "Battle Scars". Sebastian has sung at many notable events, including performing for Pope Benedict XVI, Oprah Winfrey and Queen Elizabeth II.[29][30][31] He has a strong commitment to charity, and was previously an ambassador for World Vision Australia and the Australian Red Cross. He has created his own foundation, The Sebastian Foundation, with his wife Jules.[32][33] Sebastian was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition of his significant service to music and charity.[34] He has served as a judge on Australia's The X Factor from 2010 to 2012 and again from 2015 to 2016, and coach on The Voice Australia since 2019.[35] In 2021, Sebastian became The Voice's senior coach after Delta Goodrem's departure. He represented Australia at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in fifth place.[36]

  1. ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more". Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  2. ^ "RCA Artists: Guy Sebastian". RCA Records. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b Girly Sebastian in the Australian Charts. australian-charts.com. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  4. ^ a b Album and Single Accreditations 1997–2012. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  5. ^ Ryan, Gavin (19 August 2012). Guy Sebastian Equals Abba For Number 1 Hits In Australia. Noise11. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012.
  6. ^ ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 May 2010
  7. ^ ARIA Single Accreditations 2011 Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 1 May 2011
  8. ^ ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  9. ^ ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Singles. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 March 2013
  10. ^ ARIA Accreditations – 2019 Singles. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  11. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  12. ^ ARIA's End Of Decade Charts* (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 7 January 2010. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012.
  13. ^ Guy Sebastian and Lupe Fiasco - Battle Scars. aCharts.US. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  14. ^ Gold Platinum searchable database. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 6 November 2016
  15. ^ Battle Scars Norway. norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  16. ^ Guy Sebastian in the NZ charts. Charts.org.nz. Retrieved on 17 September 2012.
  17. ^ RIANZ Archived Charts 18 January 2004.Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  18. ^ Latest Gold/Platinum Singles. RadioScope New Zealand. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  19. ^ Guy Sebastian - Tonight Again. acharts.us. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  20. ^ Guy Sebastian on Dutch Charts. Dutch Chart Archives. Retrieved 30 May 2015
  21. ^ Guy Sebastian – Tonight Again, Chartlist week 23, 2015. Tonlist. Archived from the original on 9 June 2015.
  22. ^ ARIA Awards History by Artist. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012.
  23. ^ ARIA Nominations. Australian Recording Industry Association. 28 September 2010. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012.
  24. ^ ARIA Award nominees announced for 2011. thevine.com.au. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012.
  25. ^ Winners of the 2011 ARIA Awards. The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012.
  26. ^ Smith, Sarah (6 October 2014). Chet Faker and Violent Soho lead 2014 ARIA nominations. Faster Louder. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014.
  27. ^ Here are all the winners from the 2019 ARIA Awards.The Music Network. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  28. ^ ARIA Awards 2020: Big winners include Tame Impala, SAMPA & Amy Shark. Mediaweek. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2021
  29. ^ Pope personally thanks WYD08 Volunteers. Catholic News Agency. 20 July 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012.
  30. ^ Exclusive: Guy Sebastian sings at Oprah's private party. Today Network. The Dirt. 16 December 2010. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012.
  31. ^ Iggulden, Tom (28 October 2011). Queen welcomes 54 countries to CHOGM. ABC Lateline. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012.
  32. ^ The X Factor Australia: Guy Sebastian. Yahoo!7 tv. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012.
  33. ^ Cronin, Seanna (5 October 2016).Flume leads nominations for 30th annual ARIA Awards. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  34. ^ Darren Hayes, Guy Sebastian & More Named On Queen's Birthday Honours List.OZtix. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  35. ^ Moran, Jonathon (2 May 2015). Chris Isaak and James Blunt: Meet the new X Factor guys. Perthnow. Archived from the original on 3 May 2015.
  36. ^ Idato, Michael (24 March 2015).Eurovision 2015: Sweden's Mans Zelmerlow wins; Australia's Guy Sebastian fifth. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2015.